2009 Mercury Grand Marquis tow

WASHING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral
pH shampoo, such as Motorcraft Detail Wash (ZC-3-A), which is available
from your authorized dealer.
•Never use strong household detergents or soap, such as dish washing
or laundry liquid. These products can discolor and spot painted
surfaces.
•Never wash a vehicle that is “hot to the touch” or during exposure to
strong, direct sunlight.
•Always use a clean sponge or car wash mitt with plenty of water for
best results.
•Dry the vehicle with a chamois or soft terry cloth towel in order to
eliminate water spotting.
•It is especially important to wash the vehicle regularly during the
winter months, as dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and cause
damage to the vehicle.
•Immediately remove items such as gasoline, diesel fuel, bird droppings
and insect deposits because they can cause damage to the vehicle’s
paintwork and trim over time. Use Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover
(ZC-42) which is available from your authorized dealer.
•Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a
car wash.
•Suntan lotions and insect repellents can damage any painted
surface; if these substances come in contact with your vehicle,
wash off as soon as possible.
Exterior chrome
•Wash the vehicle first, using cool or lukewarm water and a neutral pH
shampoo, such as Motorcraft Detail Wash (ZC-3-A).
•Use Motorcraft Custom Bright Metal Cleaner (ZC-15), available from
your authorized dealer. Apply the product as you would a wax to
clean bumpers and other chrome parts; allow the cleaner to dry for a
few minutes, then wipe off the haze with a clean, dry rag.
•Never use abrasive materials such as steel wool or plastic pads
as they can scratch the chrome surface.
•After polishing chrome bumpers, apply a coating of Motorcraft
Premium Liquid Wax (ZC-53-A), available from your authorized dealer,
or an equivalent quality product to help protect from environmental
effects.
2009 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide(own2002), 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Cleaning
216

Replace wiper blades at least once per year for optimum performance.
Poor wiper quality can be improved by cleaning the wiper blades and the
windshield. Refer toWindows and wiper bladesin theCleaning
chapter.
To prolong the life of the wiper blades, it is highly recommended to
scrape off the ice on the windshield before turning on the wipers. The
layer of ice has many sharp edges and can damage the micro edge of the
wiper rubber element.
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil
Refer to thescheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate
intervals for checking the engine oil.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait up to 15 minutes for the oil to drain into
the oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely latched in P
(Park).
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the
engine oil level dipstick.
2009 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide(own2002), 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
227

•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between the top gears occurs. Unnecessary
shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
2009 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide(own2002), 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
247

opening the trunk .....................77
panic alarm ...............................77
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................78
replacing the batteries .............78
Roadside assistance ..................184
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ......................93, 97–102
Safety Canopy ...........................117
Safety defects, reporting ..........215
Safety restraints ............93, 97–102
Belt-Minder...........................103
extension assembly ................101
for adults ...........................98–101
for children .............................120
lap belt ......................................99
Occupant Classification
Sensor ........................................95
warning light and chime ........102
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................129
Safety seats for children ..........124
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................261
Seats ............................................87
child safety seats ....................124
front seats .................................88
heated ........................................92
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...................82, 85
Servicing your vehicle ..............223
Setting the clock
AM/FM single CD .....................24
AM/FM stereo ...........................21
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................33AM/FM/Tape/CD .......................28
Spark plugs, specifications ......255,
260
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................257
Speed control ..............................58
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......170
Starting your vehicle ........168–170
jump starting ..........................202
Steering wheel
controls ......................................61
tilting .........................................53
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................53
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....153
Tires ...................................138–139
alignment ................................146
care ..........................................142
changing ..................................198
checking the pressure ............142
inflating ...................................140
label .........................................152
replacing ..................................144
rotating ....................................146
safety practices .......................145
sidewall information ...............147
snow tires and chains ............158
spare tire .........................195, 197
terminology .............................139
tire grades ...............................139
treadwear ........................138, 143
Towing .......................................164
recreational towing .................167
trailer towing ..........................164
wrecker ....................................207
2009 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide(own2002), 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Index
269

Traction control ........................177
Traction-lok rear axle ...............179
Transmission .............................179
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....179
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................252
fluid, refill capacities ..............257
lubricant specifications ..........257
Trunk ...........................................74
remote release ....................71, 77
Turn signal ..................................45
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................261
Vehicle loading ..........................158Ventilating your vehicle
...........171
W
Warning lights (see Lights)
.......12
Washer fluid
..............................226
Water, Driving through
.............183
Windows
power
.........................................55
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
..........................................52
checking and adding fluid
.....226
replacing wiper blades
...........226
Wrecker towing
.........................207
2009 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide(own2002), 2nd Printing
USA(fus)
Index
270